Tom Love
{{short description|American billionaire businessman (1937–2023)}}
{{For|the Kansas politician|Tom Love (politician)}}
{{Infobox person
| image =
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| name = Tom Love
| caption =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth-date|October 1937}}
| birth_place = Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
| death_date = {{death date and age|2023|03|07|1937|10}}
| death_place = Oklahoma City, Oklahoma, U.S.
| death_cause =
| restingplace =
| education = St. Gregory's High School
| alma mater = St. John's University (dropped out)
University of Oklahoma (dropped out)
| occupation = Executive Chairman, Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores
| known for =
| spouse = Judy Love
| parents = F. C. Love
| children = 4
| relatives =
| website =
}}
Thomas E. Love (October 1937 – March 7, 2023), was an American billionaire businessman. He was the founder, owner, and executive chairman of Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores.
Early life
Thomas E. Love{{cite news|title=Margaret Eugenia Vessels Love|url=http://newsok.com/margaret-eugenia-vessels-love/article/2883270|accessdate=14 February 2015|work=NewsOK|date=February 3, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150214130750/http://newsok.com/margaret-eugenia-vessels-love/article/2883270|archive-date=14 February 2015}} was born in Oklahoma City in October 1937,{{cite web|title=Tom Love|url=http://www.academyofachievement.org/honorees/tom_love.htm|website=SMEI Academy of Achievement|accessdate=12 February 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160312085149/http://www.academyofachievement.org/honorees/tom_love.htm|archive-date=12 March 2016}} one of six siblings. He was the son of F. C. Love, a lawyer who was later president of the oil company Kerr-McGee,{{cite news|last1=Shottenkirk|first1=Marcia|title=The Century Club: Tom Love, CEO of Love's Country Stores|url=https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1P2-5853400/the-century-club-tom-love-ceo-of-love-s-country|accessdate=12 February 2015|work=The Journal Record|date=April 9, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171215112426/https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1P2-5853400/the-century-club-tom-love-ceo-of-love-s-country|archive-date=2017-12-15}} and Margaret Eugenia Vessels Love. Thomas was the descendant of two Chickasaw families, both named Love, who were forced to participate in the Trail of Tears.{{Cite web |title=Chickasaw.tv {{!}} Tom Love |url=https://www.chickasaw.tv/profiles/tom-love-profile |access-date=15 March 2022 |website=www.chickasaw.tv|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221202164429/https://www.chickasaw.tv/profiles/tom-love-profile|archive-date=2 December 2022}} He was a descendant of Benjamin Love, who was the official interpreter for the Chickasaw people.
At age 13, he left home to be educated as a boarder at St. Gregory's High School in Shawnee, where he was a standout football player.{{cite news|last1=May|first1=Bill|title=Diligence, Good Sites Give Love Midas Touch|url=https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1P2-5688737/diligence-good-sites-give-love-midas-touch|accessdate=12 February 2015|work=The Journal Record|date=July 1, 1995|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160222185513/https://www.questia.com/newspaper/1P2-5688737/diligence-good-sites-give-love-midas-touch|archive-date=February 22, 2016}}
Love attended St. John's University in Collegeville, Minnesota, but left after less than one semester. He then joined the U.S. Marine Corps and over a three-year career, rose to the rank of corporal. After leaving the Marines, he married and decided to try college once more. He dropped out of the University of Oklahoma in 1964.{{cite web|title=Forbes profile:Tom & Judy Love|url=https://www.forbes.com/profile/tom-judy-love/|website=Forbes|accessdate=17 March 2018}}
Career
Initially, Love owned restaurants and car washes, until he discovered an opportunity in abandoned gas stations.
In January 1964, Love and his wife Judy leased a self-service gas station in Watonga, Oklahoma. Love went on to open another 30 gas stations. Then in 1971, he decided to merge self-service gas stations with convenience stores and the business continued to grow.
Today, Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores is a national chain with more than 600 locations in 42 states.{{cite web|title=Love's Travel Stops & Country Stores Inc.|url=http://www.loves.com/AboutUs.aspx|website=Loves.com|accessdate=8 March 2023}}
Personal life and death
Tom and Judy Love married on December 26, 1961. They had four children and lived in Oklahoma City. Three of their children work for the company. Frank Love and Greg Love are co-CEOs, and Jenny Love Meyer is the vice president of communications.
Judy Love was secretary of Love's Travel Stops and president of Love's Family Foundation. She sat on the boards of Oklahoma City University, SSM Health Care, the St. Anthony Foundation, Oklahoma City Museum of Art, Civic Center Music Hall, Allied Arts, Community Foundation, and the University of Central Oklahoma Foundation.{{cite book|author=Jane Jayroe|title=Devote Forty Days|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=x1fThM0H97sC&pg=PA125|date=25 January 2011|publisher=Tate Publishing|isbn=978-1-61739-098-2|pages=125–126}}
Tom Love died in Oklahoma City on March 7, 2023, at age 85.{{cite news |last1=Lackmeyer |first1=Steve |title=Tom Love, founder of Love's Travel Stops, dead at age 85 |url=https://www.oklahoman.com/story/news/2023/03/07/tom-love-dies-okc-loves-travel-stops/69980731007/ |access-date=7 March 2023 |work=The Oklahoman |date=7 March 2023 |ref=oklahoman}}{{cite news|title=Tom Love, founder of Love's Travel Stops passes; he was 85|url=https://www.truckersnews.com/news/article/15352146/tom-love-founder-of-loves-travel-stops-passes-he-was-85|website=Truckers News|date=March 7, 2023}} He was posthumously awarded an honorary degree from the University of Oklahoma in May 2024.{{Cite web |title=2023 Honorary Degree Recipients |url=https://www.ou.edu/commencement/honorary-degrees/2024-may.html |access-date=2024-06-04 |website=www.ou.edu |language=en-US}}
References
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Category:American billionaires
Category:College of Saint Benedict and Saint John's University alumni
Category:University of Oklahoma alumni
Category:Businesspeople from Oklahoma City
Category:United States Marines
Category:20th-century American businesspeople